2026 and beyond

[The White Knight]

1 hour ago, Hawk127 said:

Most on here care but it is probably those in charge who have lost touch with what supporters of this particular two wheeled sport want. SON was in the most part boring except for the underdogs in Germany taking a title. It seems that speedway has lost its way at international level and has become very insular from a local league level. It will take something or someone special to pull the sport together at the highest level and as long as the riders and not not the authorities dictate when and how meetings take place and what conditions it is on a downward trajectory. Someone needs to get a grip particularly in the UK as the current set up is failing all genuine supporters.

Personally, I blame the GP System. I honestly think that Speedway was a much better Sport to watch before the GP's started.

I thought from the first time the GP System was brought in to existence, in Speedway that it would be the long, slow death knell of British Speedway.

I believe that, desperately sadly, I have been proved right.

A number of things have contributed to people's disillusionment with British Speedway.

Firstly, the League system we have is challenging, to say the least, with the 'Play Off'  system and fitting all the Meetings in before the end of the Season.

Secondly, not all tracks have a 'One'Off' Individual Meeting - a source of great pleasure to the Supporters - those who pay to attend, by the way.

Pairs Meetings, Four Team Tournaments are now, it seems, no longer fashionable and no longer exist.

Thirdly, the Bikes are far and away too fast for the Tracks that the riders are expected to race on, resulting in more injuries. Said Tracks are STILL very similar to those Tracks back in the years Speedway started (1920's). Bikes and Accessories have moved forward with development, the Tracks have not.

Finally, I believe that the introduction of the Four Valve Engine was another contributor to Speedway's demise.

If only we could go back to 2 Valve engines, 'One Off'World Finals, Second Halves, no 'Play Off' so the Team that actually win the League really do win it. Integrity is important and folks don't like to be cheated of the fair and just result.

I know most folk will think that I am talking nonsense to which I can only say - LOOK AT SPEEDWAY NOW AND LOOK AT SPEEDWAY THEN. There is a tremendous difference, and NOT for the better either.

No the wonder people are walking away, the Price to go to a Meeting has risen enormously for the Meeting only, with no extras like the old Second Half.

All of these things are contributors to the decline of our Sport.

Edited Sunday at 10:05 PM by The White Knight
Forgot a couple of points

[PersonalResponsibility]

14 hours ago, The White Knight said:

Personally, I blame the GP System. I honestly think that Speedway was a much better Sport to watch before the GP's started.

I thought from the first time the GP System was brought in to existence, in Speedway that it would be the long, slow death knell of British Speedway.

I believe that, desperately sadly, I have been proved right.

A number of things have contributed to people's disillusionment with British Speedway.

Firstly, the League system we have is challenging, to say the least, with the 'Play Off'  system and fitting all the Meetings in before the end of the Season.

Secondly, not all tracks have a 'One'Off' Individual Meeting - a source of great pleasure to the Supporters - those who pay to attend, by the way.

Pairs Meetings, Four Team Tournaments are now, it seems, no longer fashionable and no longer exist.

Thirdly, the Bikes are far and away too fast for the Tracks that the riders are expected to race on, resulting in more injuries. Said Tracks are STILL very similar to those Tracks back in the years Speedway started (1920's). Bikes and Accessories have moved forward with development, the Tracks have not.

Finally, I believe that the introduction of the Four Valve Engine was another contributor to Speedway's demise.

If only we could go back to 2 Valve engines, 'One Off'World Finals, Second Halves, no 'Play Off' so the Team that actually win the League really do win it. Integrity is important and folks don't like to be cheated of the fair and just result.

I know most folk will think that I am talking nonsense to which I can only say - LOOK AT SPEEDWAY NOW AND LOOK AT SPEEDWAY THEN. There is a tremendous difference, and NOT for the better either.

No the wonder people are walking away, the Price to go to a Meeting has risen enormously for the Meeting only, with no extras like the old Second Half.

All of these things are contributors to the decline of our Sport.

Sadly, I think a lot of what you're missing is nostalgia, not that there's anything wrong with that. Modern day speedway is clearly thriving domestically in Poland, and isn't exactly dead in Sweden, so why is GB struggling?

I think you could bring back Wembley, uprights, 4TT and whatever else, but it's too late. It's been like death by a thousand paper cuts following British speedway in the last 25 years. 

I think where we do agree is that it's probably too far gone now. Sad.

[YeOldPitGate]

18 hours ago, The White Knight said:

Personally, I blame the GP System. I honestly think that Speedway was a much better Sport to watch before the GP's started.

I thought from the first time the GP System was brought in to existence, in Speedway that it would be the long, slow death knell of British Speedway.

I believe that, desperately sadly, I have been proved right.

A number of things have contributed to people's disillusionment with British Speedway.

Firstly, the League system we have is challenging, to say the least, with the 'Play Off'  system and fitting all the Meetings in before the end of the Season.

Secondly, not all tracks have a 'One'Off' Individual Meeting - a source of great pleasure to the Supporters - those who pay to attend, by the way.

Pairs Meetings, Four Team Tournaments are now, it seems, no longer fashionable and no longer exist.

Thirdly, the Bikes are far and away too fast for the Tracks that the riders are expected to race on, resulting in more injuries. Said Tracks are STILL very similar to those Tracks back in the years Speedway started (1920's). Bikes and Accessories have moved forward with development, the Tracks have not.

Finally, I believe that the introduction of the Four Valve Engine was another contributor to Speedway's demise.

If only we could go back to 2 Valve engines, 'One Off'World Finals, Second Halves, no 'Play Off' so the Team that actually win the League really do win it. Integrity is important and folks don't like to be cheated of the fair and just result.

I know most folk will think that I am talking nonsense to which I can only say - LOOK AT SPEEDWAY NOW AND LOOK AT SPEEDWAY THEN. There is a tremendous difference, and NOT for the better either.

No the wonder people are walking away, the Price to go to a Meeting has risen enormously for the Meeting only, with no extras like the old Second Half.

All of these things are contributors to the decline of our Sport.

Don't disagree with any of that but the frustrating thing is if you look at the last world team cup when Poland pipped GB at the post the place was packed and the last four heats were out of the top drawer.

[cowboy cookie returns?]

I don’t think you can blame the gps. The sport had already been in decline for the decade before their introduction. 
 

What you blame is failure to move with the times in the uk.

[mikebv]

On 10/5/2025 at 5:26 PM, secsy1 said:

So Arnieg and ShaonaXtra want British speedway to fall into extra insignificance due to the Polish fans not giving a crap about the Speedway of Nations due to its insignificance!

Sorry Poland is supposed to be the leader in promoting Speedway as it is the World leader.

If the fans cannot be bothered with International Speedway (As they did not win it) Shame on you.

How pathetic are you clowns>

If we are winning it is great, but if we are losing we will complain.

Pair of idiots who do not care about speedway as they are clowns

????

What happens in Poland's hosting of the SON has zero bearing on UK Speedway...

The Poles give the SON a wide berth, and fully concentrate on their own leagues (which are much cheaper to attend), and the individual GP's, (their own individual events are often quite poorly attended)...

The SWC, when held there, usually generates decent interest. 

But, even if they get a full house for it, or have the place empty...

If won't be of any impact to the UK crowd levels and the way the promoters run the sport in the UK...

 

[RS50]

When is this year's AGM?

Presume that's when decisions will be announced.

[Glen]

On 10/6/2025 at 5:45 PM, cowboy cookie returns? said:

What you blame is failure to move with the times in the uk.

I think what you are referring to is dilapidated stadiums, very little seating and a sport that covers you in dust!

[marko]

There used to be good individual meetings but then the promoters started to water them down to 12 riders and 15 heats with very mediocre cards, public stayed away.

[mikebv]

12 hours ago, marko said:

There used to be good individual meetings but then the promoters started to water them down to 12 riders and 15 heats with very mediocre cards, public stayed away.

They were also sponsored by national companies, (Newspapers and Tobacco companies for the big ones), which delivered some big appearance money for the top riders, and big prize values....

And for many tracks who held such meetings, it was the only other chance you got apart from the league meeting to see the "superstar" from Belle Vue/Cradley/Coventry/Exeter etc...

Newspapers and Tobacco? Both of a different time and showing great decline in the amount of people purchasing those products...

Sounds familiar....

[chunky]

18 hours ago, mikebv said:

They were also sponsored by national companies, (Newspapers and Tobacco companies for the big ones), which delivered some big appearance money for the top riders, and big prize values....

And for many tracks who held such meetings, it was the only other chance you got apart from the league meeting to see the "superstar" from Belle Vue/Cradley/Coventry/Exeter etc...

Newspapers and Tobacco? Both of a different time and showing great decline in the amount of people purchasing those products...

Sounds familiar....

Don't forget booze! At Wimbledon we had the Skol Pairs, the Whitbread Trophy etc. Tolly Cobbold sponsored meetings at Mildenhall. I remember the outrage when Durex sponsored a Test series...

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

2 minutes ago, chunky said:

Don't forget booze! At Wimbledon we had the Skol Pairs, the Whitbread Trophy etc. Tolly Cobbold sponsored meetings at Mildenhall. I remember the outrage when Durex sponsored a Test series...

I was really young when durex first sponsored speedway and has no idea what they were and also when dianetics sponsored wolves I had no idea of the controversy of them until I heard Chris van Stratton on a local radio show defending them sponsoring wolves 

[mikebv]

10 hours ago, chunky said:

Don't forget booze! At Wimbledon we had the Skol Pairs, the Whitbread Trophy etc. Tolly Cobbold sponsored meetings at Mildenhall. I remember the outrage when Durex sponsored a Test series...

All proper "working men" sponsors....

Who knew their target audience will all be in attendance...

And Speedway was to the "working man" a "cheap night out" in relation to his disposable income...

Many Aces fans would watch United or City then attend the Speedway in the evening ..

You are looking at £150 and more, with admission costs, transport, food and drink, to do that now...

And with mortgage costs, mobile contracts, satellite TV costs, gas/electric/water bills, car ownership costs, and all other "mod cons" that people have these days, that disposable income has shrank hugely...

Getting someone (even a "regular" never mind a "newbie") to pay out circa £30, twice a month, to watch Speedway, which has no major financial reward nor public awareness, must be a massive challenge....

[1 valve]

10 hours ago, chunky said:

Don't forget booze! At Wimbledon we had the Skol Pairs, the Whitbread Trophy etc. Tolly Cobbold sponsored meetings at Mildenhall. I remember the outrage when Durex sponsored a Test series...

Booze and tobacco companies sponsored many sports back in the day. The modern equivalent is now betting companies who appeal to a very wide demographic of customer and actually advertise their sporting markets with some very good visual & creative commercials that creates a wide awareness of the sport across multiple media channels 
The “Bet 365 SuperLeague of Speedway” maybe? 
or slogans like Paddy Power is Speedway Power

[ShanoXtra]

On 10/5/2025 at 5:26 PM, secsy1 said:

So Arnieg and ShaonaXtra want British speedway to fall into extra insignificance due to the Polish fans not giving a crap about the Speedway of Nations due to its insignificance!

Sorry Poland is supposed to be the leader in promoting Speedway as it is the World leader.

If the fans cannot be bothered with International Speedway (As they did not win it) Shame on you.

How pathetic are you clowns>

If we are winning it is great, but if we are losing we will complain.

Pair of idiots who do not care about speedway as they are clowns

Firstly, if you wanna talk cr@p then @ me and don’t just write my name so I can respond.

You clearly have a complex over Poland having the best league but don’t know why you are saying I want British speedway to fall? I’m British so how does that make sense? And also why is it Polands job to promote world speedway 😂 never seen the Premier League promote La Liga or any other foreign league so why is speedway different? Get your own house in order before looking elsewhere. Why didn’t all the other teams in the British Premiership (speedway) write on their social media about Ipswich Witches vs Leicester and promote it? Ohhhh yeah, because it doesn’t benefit them, Poland has no gain from waxing lyrical about British Speedway. Stop blaming another country and look at your home town and why people don’t turn up.

If you are calling me and @arnieg clowns because British speedway is failing then I’d say you must must be the ring master of the circus 😂 no info, no idea, just a keyboard in front of you and a box of tissues to cry into by the sounds of it.

By the way, Ipswich got about 6,000 fans in the final and 4,000 for the derby day against Kings Lynn, because some clubs can’t promote, or their town/city aren’t bothered about speedway don’t say everyone is failing, Ipswich are quite the success story over the last 3 years, and that’s because they took a gamble with Emil and Doyle and then built from that.

PS. Even if Poland did win SoN they still wouldn’t be bothered!